This week focus on how the implementation of your project is proceeding. What makes a good king according to the Deuteronomistic Historian? Would the Deuteronomistic Historian approve of George W. Bush? Why or why not? What is the worst thing that David did? Describe the Jerusalem Temple. What is the history of the first and second temples?

            My project, so far, is still going good.  I am still working along with the Medicaid office of LaPlace, LA to come up with new events to get people to come out to a sign up event for free healthcare.  Since summer is approaching, there will be many fairs (mostly around the more “country” areas) approaching.  So an idea that I came up with was to set up a booth at the fairs for people to come and enjoy themselves while still receiving free information on the Medicaid programs.  I think that with the help of the Medicaid office this would be possible because they are willing to supply everything needed to make this event successful.  Another idea that came up was to go to different churches ad present the information to those who needed to be informed of the information.  There would be a sign up after the information was presented.  We are trying to come up with more ideas that would attract people for the insurance for children.  Children are the ones that are really in need because they can not help themselves.  So by us trying to help the parents provide for those children is a great way to look out for their health.  So, I can say that the project is successful and I think that many people are benefiting from it.  The only thing that I truly wish for is that people would actually see how serious this problem is.  If everyone gets involved and tries to help then the problem may diminish which takes away from one of the many problems that are currently occurring in the community.  Hopefully, the project continues to be a success.

            The Deuteronomistic historian is the author of Deuteronomy. He wrote a lot of history before 586 BCE, which were a lot of warnings. Then after 586 BCE, writes a message of hope. The ‘history’ that he deals with has to do with the gradual decline and destruction, and then hopes of restoration. He also deals a lot with theodicy, and questioning God, such as “why do bad things happen?”. Times when the people followed the laws of Deuteronomy were see n as favorable in God;s eyes, but when they began to stray from the law is when downfall and destruction occur. The author of Joshua through Kings is referred to as the Deuteronomistic historian because much of his basic theology comes from Deuteronomy. The Deuteronomistic historian would classify a king as good or bad based upon his faithfulness to the laws of Deuteronomy, so in other words, the laws of God. A good king is one who worships God, and wishes for the people to do so also, and places a centralization of worship on the people. All people would follow the laws and worship the same God.

            I do not think the Deuteronomistic historian would approve of George W. Bush as a leader. Since we have many, many freedoms in America, some have fallen subject to worshipping false idols, such as power, money, and fame. As our national leader, Bush should try to impose projects and reforms that keep people who have money from stealing, and to keep those in power from taking advantage of the weak. Yet, it continues to happen. Also, those who have nothing will resort to illegal and immoral ways to get money, which is not good either. As our leader, Bush continues to allow these ‘false gods’ to prosper, instead to promoting a sense of unity and preaching the message of God. If the story of America was in judges, we would soon be conquered by a nation of greater power, and then be oppressed. The people would then reconnect with God, and pray for deliverance. God would then deliver us, and we would worship only him. Bush would be seen as the horrible leader who let his people succumb to their bodily desires and neglect God.

            The worst thing King David did was sleep with Bathsheba, and has her husband Uriah killed. His initial sin was lusting after Bathsheba when he saw her bathing. Knowing her husband was away at war, he slept with her and she became pregnant with his child. He tried to cover his tracks by sending for Uriah and trying to make Uriah sleep with Bathsheba, so that when the child was born Uriah would assume it was his. However, Uriah never slept with Bathsheba, and returned back to the war. David decided that he had to have Uriah killed. He made the orders, and Uriah was killed in battle. David married Bathsheba, and she gave birth to their son. However, because of David’s sins, the child dies.

            The Jerusalem temple was built by Solomon on the Temple Mount and was destroyed in 586 BCE by the Babylonians. This temple was considered to be God’s place where people came and worshipped him. There was a worship area where animals were butchered for sacrifices and altars were made for burnt sacrifices. This area also had a table of showbread and contained the Holy of Holies. On each of the different sides of the temple there were gates. The North side had 12 gates, the South side had 4 gates, and the West and East side had 2 gates. After the First Temple was destroyed in 586 BC a Second Temple was built around 6th century BCE and was finally completed after almost 30 years of building. This temple was also destroyed but by the Romans in 70 CE. Another temple wanted to be built in its place but most likely that will never take place because of all the dissension between religious groups and other various parties involved.

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 25th, 2009 at 12:51 am and is filed under Week 09: Implementation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.